What is shot clock and game clock in Basketball?

Section 2: Equipment

The Basketball

The official NBA game ball is manufactured by Wilson (replacing Spalding beginning with the 2021-2022 season). It must meet the following specifications:

Size: Size 7 (men's official) with a circumference of 29.5 inches (74.9 cm)
Weight: 22 ounces (623.7 g)
Material: Full-grain Horween leather with a pebbled surface for consistent grip
Inflation: Between 7.5 and 8.5 pounds per square inch (psi)
Bounce: When dropped from a height of 6 feet (1.83 m) onto a hardwood floor, the ball must bounce to a height of 49 to 54 inches (124.5–137.2 cm)
Color: Traditional orange with black seams and the NBA logo

Each team is required to have a minimum of three game balls available for each game. Home teams supply the game balls, which must be approved by the game officials prior to tip-off.

Backboard and Rim

Backboard: Rectangular, 6 feet (1.83 m) wide by 3.5 feet (1.07 m) tall, made of transparent tempered glass or polycarbonate with a 2-inch (5.08 cm) white border
Rim (basket): 18 inches (45.7 cm) in internal diameter, made of 5/8-inch (1.59 cm) diameter steel rod, painted orange
Rim height: 10 feet (3.05 m) above the playing floor, measured to the top edge of the rim
Net: White cord, 15 to 18 inches (38.1–45.7 cm) in length, designed to momentarily check the ball as it passes through the basket
Breakaway rim: All NBA baskets use breakaway (spring-loaded) rims designed to flex downward under pressure and return to horizontal, preventing backboard damage and reducing injury risk during dunks

Player Uniforms

Jersey: Each player must wear a jersey with a unique number (0–99) on both the front and back. Numbers must be at least 6 inches (15.2 cm) tall on the back and 4 inches (10.2 cm) on the front.
Shorts: Must be of a uniform color matching the team's designated uniform for that game
Shoes: Basketball shoes must be worn; no open-toed or non-athletic footwear is permitted. The NBA has relaxed color restrictions, allowing players to wear shoes of any color.
Compression gear: Undershirts, tights, and arm/leg sleeves are permitted but must match the predominant color of the jersey
Headbands and wristbands: Permitted in team-approved colors; headbands must be no wider than 2 inches

Prohibited Equipment

Jewelry of any kind (rings, necklaces, earrings, watches) during games
Hard or dangerous objects that could cause injury (casts, splints, or braces must be padded and approved by the officials)
Unapproved commercial logos or personal messaging on uniforms or equipment
Sticky substances on hands or the ball

Shot Clock and Game Clock

Shot clock: Visible displays mounted above each backboard, showing the 24-second shot clock countdown. Must be visible to players, officials, and spectators.
Game clock: Centrally located scoreboard displaying game time, score, period, team fouls, and timeouts remaining
LED lights: Backboard-mounted LED strips that illuminate red when the shot clock or game clock expires, providing visual confirmation for officials

Section 2: Equipment

The Basketball

The official NBA game ball is manufactured by Wilson (replacing Spalding beginning with the 2021-2022 season). It must meet the following specifications:

Size: Size 7 (men's official) with a circumference of 29.5 inches (74.9 cm)
Weight: 22 ounces (623.7 g)
Material: Full-grain Horween leather with a pebbled surface for consistent grip
Inflation: Between 7.5 and 8.5 pounds per square inch (psi)
Bounce: When dropped from a height of 6 feet (1.83 m) onto a hardwood floor, the ball must bounce to a height of 49 to 54 inches (124.5–137.2 cm)
Color: Traditional orange with black seams and the NBA logo

Each team is required to have a minimum of three game balls available for each game. Home teams supply the game balls, which must be approved by the game officials prior to tip-off.

Backboard and Rim

Backboard: Rectangular, 6 feet (1.83 m) wide by 3.5 feet (1.07 m) tall, made of transparent tempered glass or polycarbonate with a 2-inch (5.08 cm) white border
Rim (basket): 18 inches (45.7 cm) in internal diameter, made of 5/8-inch (1.59 cm) diameter steel rod, painted orange
Rim height: 10 feet (3.05 m) above the playing floor, measured to the top edge of the rim
Net: White cord, 15 to 18 inches (38.1–45.7 cm) in length, designed to momentarily check the ball as it passes through the basket
Breakaway rim: All NBA baskets use breakaway (spring-loaded) rims designed to flex downward under pressure and return to horizontal, preventing backboard damage and reducing injury risk during dunks

Player Uniforms

Jersey: Each player must wear a jersey with a unique number (0–99) on both the front and back. Numbers must be at least 6 inches (15.2 cm) tall on the back and 4 inches (10.2 cm) on the front.
Shorts: Must be of a uniform color matching the team's designated uniform for that game
Shoes: Basketball shoes must be worn; no open-toed or non-athletic footwear is permitted. The NBA has relaxed color restrictions, allowing players to wear shoes of any color.
Compression gear: Undershirts, tights, and arm/leg sleeves are permitted but must match the predominant color of the jersey
Headbands and wristbands: Permitted in team-approved colors; headbands must be no wider than 2 inches

Prohibited Equipment

Jewelry of any kind (rings, necklaces, earrings, watches) during games
Hard or dangerous objects that could cause injury (casts, splints, or braces must be padded and approved by the officials)
Unapproved commercial logos or personal messaging on uniforms or equipment
Sticky substances on hands or the ball

Shot Clock and Game Clock

Shot clock: Visible displays mounted above each backboard, showing the 24-second shot clock countdown. Must be visible to players, officials, and spectators.
Game clock: Centrally located scoreboard displaying game time, score, period, team fouls, and timeouts remaining
LED lights: Backboard-mounted LED strips that illuminate red when the shot clock or game clock expires, providing visual confirmation for officials

Shot Clock and Game Clock